Body found in search for missing US tourist last seen at 'sketchy' Airbnb

A body has been found in the search for missing US tourist Carla Stefaniak, reports ABC News.

Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency confirmed the body was found buried in a mountainous area 60 metres from the Airbnb Stefaniak, 36, was staying at. It has not yet been identified but 'preliminary observation' confirms the body is female.

Carla Stefaniak. (Facebook/Finding Carla)

Stefaniak has not been seen since November 27. She was on holiday in Costa Rica with sister-in-law, April Burton, to celebrate her birthday. Burton returned home to Miami a day earlier than Stefaniak who dropped her to the airport.

The 36-year-old then caught an Uber back to her San Jose Airbnb, which was 30 minutes away. That same Uber driver took her "sightseeing and shopping", according to family spokesperson Katie Gardner, and was due to pick her up the next morning to catch her flight home.

When Stefaniak arrived at the rental, she and Burton were texting back and forth and she told her that the light was going on and off in her room. The last message sent from Stefaniak was at 8pm that night and read, "It's pretty sketchy here".

Stefaniak was on holidays with her sister-in-law. (Facebook/Finding Carla)

In an interview with FOX News, Burton also said Stefaniak was Facetiming an unnamed friend at around 9pm. She told him she was "thirsty and was going to ask one of the security guards to buy her a bottle of water" before her phone went dead.

According to the Airbnb security guards and the Uber driver, Stefaniak was last seen at 5am on November 28 getting into a mystery car with her luggage. She checked in but did not board her afternoon flight back to Miami.

Family and friends, however, are suspicious of the story given by witnesses.

"The Uber driver arrived around 8am to pick up Stefaniak but could not find her," Katie Gardner said.

"However, her family says the story does not make sense since her flight was not until that afternoon and the airport was only 30 minutes away. And since she had already used that Uber driver the day before, why would she have called a different Uber?"

April Burton and Carla Stefaniak. (Facebook/Finding Carla)

There is also no trace of an Uber ride on her account. "None of us really believe this 5am story," Burton told FOX News.

Her brother had purchased a one-way flight to Costa Rica to search for his sister.